Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-02-25

| tional Convention, and it is common tradition
that he wrote almost the whole of our first con-
stitution in the bar-room of VIM. Keys tavern,
using wine keg for his seat and the head of
whisky barrel for writing table. II this tale
is true, and II Is by no means improbable, the
instrument that was the fundamental law of
this State for about half century had queer
origin.
In 1884, Baldwin was Speaker of the House
of Representatives and his couvvial habits
were pretty well developed ut that time 1t is
| said that he was then something of card play
er, and that one night he played until q
| late hour with party of rural members of the
| Legislature who craved excitement. Baldwin
| was banker and dealer, and he managed to win
all of the money and all of the watches in the
, party. He retired, flushed with his pleasant
| victory and being used to late hours, appeared
| in the Speakers chair the next morning at the
| usual hour and called the House to order. After
n time some one demanded n call of the House,
and the fact was officially made known that
there was no quorum present. The Sergeantat-
Arms was sent after the absent members, and
in an hour or two he conducted dozen sleepy
looking fellows, Baldwin's companions AZ cards,
before the bar of the House. Baldwin arose in
his place, and with a good deal of dignity and
severity of manner began to reprimand the half
sober delinquents for their indifference to the
public veal and to the trusts reposed in them
by their constituents. He reminded them of the
great cost to the young State of each day that
the Legislature was in session, and said they
had no right to consume the time of the people
in sleep, and was urging them to be more pune
tual when one OF the halftipsy tardy ones ex-
claimed Hold on, there, Mr.. Speaker! How
in - can we be expected to know the hour
when you have got all our watchesy
In the meantime Baldwin was sinking deeper
and deeper into debt and becoming more and
more given TO the undue use of whisky. His
friends, upon one or two occasions, attempted
to relieve him of his grave financial embarrass.
ments, and for that purpose sent him bags of
coin amounting to considerable sum. Bald
win took the money hired negro to carry the
bags, and then called on his creditors and had
each one in turn grab handful OF coin, without
regard to the amount of his claim continuing
his queer debtpaying journey until the money
was exhausted.
Baldwin was U. S. Marshal for time but was
removed by Jefferson whom he thoroughly
hated
When the Burr expedition failed Aaron Burr
advised Blennerhasset to retain for their coun-
sci in their trial for high treason, which they
both expected, Judge Jacob Burnet, of Cincin-
natl, and Michael Baldwin, of Chillicothe. The
trial did not take place, but Blennerhasset wrote
his wife in December, 1907: II have retained
Burnet and Baldwin. The former will be host
with the decent part of the citizens of Ohio, and
the latter giant of influence with the rabble."
Baldwin died about 1912 anh :. y probably not
life was freghted with significant point and in
terest, and unfortunately his career is by no
means an uncommon one with lawyers who live
well, work hard and die poor"
The orator OF the early bar OF Ross County
was William Sumpter who was born in South
Carolina In the last decade OF the eighteenth
century. He was n speaker OF magnetic pres
ence, rare eloquence and uncommon force. His
reputation was wide, and he was most fire.
quently referred to as the Patrick Henry of the
West.
Colonel Gilmore thinks that Murphy was prob
ably the greatest orator that this State has ever
produced, Unfortunately none of his speeches
were preserved. Shorthand writing was not in |
vogue, and printing was expensive, so his fame |
must shortly perish. President Tyler, in rec |
ogniton of Murphy's distinguished services on |
the stump, sent him TO represent this Govern |
ment in Central America. He died OF yellow |
fever while abroad.
The lawyers mentioned here are probably the |
ones who made the most impression at the bar |
of Ross County in the earliest days of the Terri
tory and State. |
The first Ohio law was passed on the 14th |
day of March, 1903, and 1t is signed by Michael |
Baldwin, Speaker OF the House OF Representa-
tives, and Nathaniel Massie, Speaker of the |
Senate. II is an act providing for the compen- |
sation OF the employees of the General Assem- |
bly,.
The first appropriations made by an Ohio |
One paragraph of the law reads:
ITO the Secretary of State, the sum of twenty |,
five dollars for TO furnish stationery"
The stationery bill of the State OF Ohio now |
amounts TO more than 5000 year.
Another item reads: "Dr. To Adam Betz !
for fre.wood and candles furnished the present |
General Assembly, three dollars and twenty |
hye cents" |
The total fund for the current expenditures |
OF the State appropriated by the first Legisla- |
ture was si0950. This year the departments
OF the State OF Ohio ask for appropriations
amounting in the aggregate to 100000.
In the acts of the first session OF the first
General Assembly, held under the first consti-
tuition OF Ohio in 1903 which were printed by
Nathaniel willis, grandfather OF the poet, de-
sorlption OF the State seal is found in law pre-
scribing the duties OF the Secretary OF State.
who was at that time, William Creighton. The
act says: '"rhe Secretary OF State shall pro.
cure seal, one inch and half In diameter,
for the use OF each and every county now or
hereafter 10 be created on which seal shall DO